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Editor’s note: This article is usually not attempted for fear of not getting everybody in home-based businesses based in Big Sandy listed; however, it is too important not to proceed. If I did not get your business listed, please let me know, and I will run a correction listing your business in the next Big Sandy Mountaineer. This year with the struggles that COVID-19 has affected our economy, it is important that we support our local businesses during our Christmas shopping. It is true we don’t have shopping available like Great Falls, or Hav...
Jimmy Griffin grew up in Simpsonville, South Carolina (Upstate, Foothills, Piedmont region). "I was born when my parents were living in a trailer house that was parked on the college campus, where my dad was a student." After graduating from that same university in December of 1986, Jimmy traveled out to Montana for the spring and summer. "Curiosity and opportunity landed me in a spare bedroom at my Aunt and Uncle's home in Havre. I quickly made friends of their friends, rented some canoes in...
Thanksgiving in 2020 will be unique in its own way. After eight months of COVID-19 and ugly political rhetoric, we find ourselves celebrating a holiday where we are supposed to give thanks. As usual, if you go around the table, as is the tradition in many homes, saying what we are thankful for. We often give thanks for the same thing we said last year; family, food, health, or our home. Frustrations, even anger, have taken their toll this year, and although we still have those things to be thankful for, it doesn’t feel like enough. I asked a f...
Although here in Big Sandy, the general rule remains controversial is to wash your hands frequently, don't touch your face, stay six feet away from other people, and wear a mask when you are indoors. COVID continues to rise in Chouteau County, and we now have our first fatality. But, there is a more in-depth discussion that needs to be held. We fight these kinds of bugs better if we are healthier. The task before us isn't anything we don't already know. How do we build a stronger immune system?...
One of my favorite school activities is the Veterans Programs that were held these last few years. The afternoon started with a free meal for the Veterans at Senior Citizens. Afterward, you would go over to the FE Miley school for a Veteran's Program put on by the elementary students. I loved it because everyone would be wearing red, white and blue and the children would sing all kinds of patriotic songs. A small talk is given at the high school before every vet stood to their arm forces anthem...
Upon researching Covid-19 on the CDC website, I found 8,911 results. If I just searched masks, I found 6,112 results on masks. The first travel-related case of COVID-19 in the United States was on January 21, 2020. The first Person-to Person spread of Covid-19 was on January 30, 2020. We now have almost 10 million. Initially, about 200 test kits were distributed, testing up to 800 individuals per kit. If a Laboratory ordered a test kit, they would be sent one. One of the other problems was data originating from all 50 states and all tribal...
The 2020 Primary Elections had higher than normal turnout. Statewide there are 696, 262 Registered Voters; of that 382,072 voted making it a 54.87% turnout. Chouteau County has 3,490 registered voters; 2,244 voted for a 64% turnout. Voting is a privilege. I have a friend that lives in Australia. She just recently reminded me that voting is mandatory in Australia. If you don’t vote you receive a “hefty” fine. About 8-10% just scribble on the ballot, but it stills means that 90-92% of the voters make the decisions of the direction of the count...
During public comment, the problem with car congestion by school pickup areas was brought forward and discussed. Big Sandy Booster club was present and talked to the school board members about the Pioneer logo the booster club uses. There is no trademark or copyright connected with it. They also discussed replacing the padding behind the basketball hoops in the main gym. The design will be done at Universal Athletics. Currently, the Booster Club is thinking about purchasing only one wall; however, there is a lot to do before a design is agreed...
The City Council met in the City Hall’s big room, with appropriate spacing, even though some still attended the meeting by Zoom, including this reporter. There were three city employees and two guests present. The meeting started as usual with the pledge of alliance and the reading of the minutes. No Sherriff’s deputy was in attendance. KLJ Engineers presented the Water Certification Survey with the request to purchase ½ an acre for building a building for the new water system. The new building will be for a meter and treatment. They have sugg...
Layne Taylor Ag Ed and FFA advisor has no idea how many FFA contests have been held since 1935. It takes a considerable amount of work to put on an FFA Livestock and Range contest. He was frustrated that all the events were being canceled because of Covid-19. The problem was they didn't want all the kids from all the schools mingling together, so he decided to have the schools come at different times and complete the Livestock and Range competition relatively separate from each other. Ten...
Going down to the Missouri River in the fall is always an incredible road trip. The county road was busy and dusty as we made our way to the entrance of the ranch. It was my first visit to the Pearson Pumpkin Patch. We went first to the pumpkin patch to pick up our pumpkins first, and even though it was Sunday, supposedly the last day, there were still many hundreds of orange pumpkins lying on the ground to be picked up. I kept hearing as I was sitting on the picnic table eating my hamburger, "w...
This time of year, Loma is beautiful to visit. The Loma valley is full of beautiful fall foliage. This year the Republican party held a supper at the Loma Community Hall. Besides the candidates speaking at the event, it was made more special as Maria Bouchard, owner of Ma's Loma Café, was celebrating that she was a new citizen of the United States and was going to be voting for the first time. Senator Daines brought her a flag that had been flown over the capital, and Representative presented...
I first saw Tana Rai Faltrino's art when her cousin Gay Pearson showed me a picture of her granddaughter with a horse that she had. I thought it captured the moment wonderfully. She lives in Havre. Tana grew up on a farm and ranch south of Havre. She was encouraged by her mother and the nuns at St. Judes School to continue to draw and paint. Tana studied painting and Art History at NMC. Another cousin Donna Jenkins, of Big Sandy and Tana, coauthored together a cookbook, Montana Legacy of Love...
Yes, it has been more interesting to meet, but Rotary continues to meet weekly now that fall is here. They wanted everyone to know they are still alive and well! Big Sandy Rotary has remained active even during these uncertain times. They have met every two weeks during the summer and before starting meeting weekly again after Labor Day. They continue to support our community in a variety of projects. The cemetery gazebo project is nearly complete! The directory was placed three weeks ago and...
One thing about a small town, you know almost everyone driving down the street. I was walking down the street when Shane and Gwen Ophus, from Ophus Auction Company, pulled up by the side walk. Shane said he had an Idea he wanted to run past me. It was about recognizing all the good stuff that happens in our community. He wanted to have some pictures in the paper so that everyone could see for themselves what is occurring and bring more pride back to our town. I was intrigued, because I was...
The monthly meeting of the Big Sandy Booster Club was held on September 8th. During this time, when so many activities have been canceled, the Booster Club is trying to maintain a positive approach n supporting the activities of the Big Sandy Schools. It has sent out it’s a letter to the Corporate Sponsors and are making plans how best to support the schools. The Big Sandy Booster Club has seen many changes over the past five years. The booster club values the community’s traditions, and they hold them dear, to their heart while knowing tha...
I was able to talk to Jason Gardiner, CEO of Kart Kleen Technologies, last week about the development of a mobile disinfecting unit that would allow students to clean their personal belongings before they entered the school. Along with company operations director, Jason Gardiner, Joe O’Bresley had their unit scientifically tested by Bill Holbein, a microbiology professor at the University of Montana. Ultraviolet rays at a specific wavelength, not found in sunlight, kills microorganisms, viruses, and bacteria at a 99.9% kill rate. Jason said, ...
Lana Claassen, Chouteau County Clerk, from the Chouteau County Clerk and Reporters office, whose primary job is to ensure we have a fair and reliable voting process, is 99.99% sure voting is fair. Every person who is registered to vote has a statewide registered number. If you have requested a mail-in ballot, there is a name and number on the outside envelope, requiring your signature. It contains your inside envelope with your ballet. She said, “we double-check every single day, making sure that what the computers say is accurate. There are s...
Rutledges are not just my neighbor. Both Lance and Andrea Rutledge had impressive accomplishments in the Red Angus beef industry. Lance Rutledge was one of the 24 Nile Merit Heifer Program participants in the class of 2020. He'll be showing his heifer in October of this year. I visited with Lance about his selection, and although I asked him to brag a little about himself, he played down his accomplishment. His application clearly showed his work in 4-H and FFA. It also required he had three...
You may have all seen this on TV Friday night but did not realize Big Sandy’s own Kris Kulbeck partially designed it. The TV story was about technology using UV lights to Kill COVID-19 germs. Kart Kleen Technologies showcased the system, “Freq Kleen-e” at Hellgate Middle school, which kills 99.9 percent of all bacteria and germs. It was the first working model in action. It takes 28 seconds to kill all bacteria and germs. They use a conveyor belt to place objects on, it then passes through an enclosed UV light tunnel and then it comes out o...
4 has been, at least to this point, quite a year! We tend to concentrate on what's wrong, I mean, what else can go wrong! We are trying hard not to step on people's toes, not to express an opinion that will alienate our friends. Joyce Meyers wrote, "Statistics prove that 10 percent of the people we encounter will not like us. There is nothing we can do about it, except worry, but even that won't change their minds." On Friday, while I was in town working on getting the paper out early, I rece...
Harvest and haying time is always a stressful time. It's hot, sweltering, equipment breaks down, and everyone is exhausted! We have little time to take a break, little time to get a good night's sleep. This year is more stressful than most. We have poor prices, and grass hopers by the millions! The political bickering is getting out of hand. Political maneuvering is more than outspoken. It's downright ugly. And then you add COVID, not necessarily massive in our area, but it affects food and...
I was first given this story by one of the Big Sandy High School neighbors because they saw Gwen Kane out there working fixing up the chair-saw Pioneer by the school parking lot. I immediately went and found Gwen working on the statue again and asked her if I could interview her. She laughed like she always does, and then said, "after the project was finished." It took three and a half weeks, not all day nor in the heat of the day, but she worked on it till the sun went down. Five years ago,...
Sarah Suru says, "I do love art. I kind of grew up with it so.... My greatest influence was my mom. She was doing it since I was little." Mrs. Mangold was Sarah's art teacher at Big Sandy High School. While at Boise State, she was required to take all kinds of art classes but found her love for sculpting metal while she was there. She went to Boise State to get a degree in Art metals. Diane Scalese encouraged her to concentrate on Metals. When she returned to Big Sandy, she worked under Jan?...
At the regular Big Sandy School Board meeting, they once again visited about how best to open the schools. However, before that, the Student Council asked permission to have a dunk tank at the Fall Kick off to help them raise funds. They realized that the Fall Kick-Off is not a sure thing, but was hoping if there was a Kick-Off that they could receive permission to rent one from Great Falls. The board decided that it was an administrative decision. The Building Maintenance Projects that are finished are the ditch beside the gym is completed, si...